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Gotham FC relocates NWSL semifinal to smaller venue, citing ‘concerns about the quality of the playing surface’ at Sports Illustrated Stadium

The No. 1-seeded Gotham will now play against No. 4 Kansas City Current at Icahn Stadium, which seats 5,000 fans — less than half of the number that showed up for Gotham's quarterfinal win this weekend.

By Kari Anderson · Yahoo

Published: Monday, 9 November 2026 at 9:15 PM

Key Things to Know

Gotham FC relocated its NWSL semifinal against Kansas City Current to Icahn Stadium due to pitch quality concerns.
Icahn Stadium holds a capacity of 5,000 fans, representing a significantly smaller venue for the top-seeded club.
The decision followed player complaints about poor turf conditions after Gotham FC's 1-0 quarterfinal win over Seattle Reign.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Gotham FC will relocate its upcoming NWSL playoff semifinal against the Kansas City Current to the 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium. The NWSL announced the decision on Monday after citing concerns regarding the quality of the playing surface at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The relocation follows significant criticism of the pitch conditions during Gotham FC's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over the Seattle Reign. The club was also reportedly fined $10,000 by the league for poor field conditions during its regular-season finale.

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